Of the 50 athletes that will be taking part 20 are from Botswana. Training sessions have been organised for locals involved in sports. With only about two weeks left for the event top take place, the countdown is underway.

Botswana has been preparing for this event for four years, with the IWG world secretariat having moved to Botswana in 2014. Since then they have hosted a series of events to sensitise locals about the conference.

IWG Secretary General Game Mothibi has declared their readiness to welcome delegates to Botswana, emphasizing that this is the platform for women to come together and learn from each other. She is convinced that the legacy that they will leave will be worthwhile.

“We are very excited because this will even be the very first international event in Botswana to be officiated by the new president Mokgweetsi Masisi,” she said.

The team recently unveiled new blazers for their top officials in an event where Gaborone mayor Kagiso Thutlwe officiated. He declared the city’s preparedness to host the world. “It is always in our effort to support women in everything that they do, and we are very delighted as the city of Gaborone for the work that all these women have done for us to be where we are. We can’t wait for Gaborone to be ignited,” he said.

Mascom spokesperson, Tebogo LebotseSebego – a former athlete herself and administrator who has led local netball and the continental one – said as Mascom they support women in sports because they recognise that it takes strong women to nurture talent in sports leadership.